Cornbread Quandary

Hello all. I'm a newbie to posting, but I've been lurking on this board for years. Thanks for the tip on Vietnam Kitchen for Christmas!

I'm in a bit of a quandary and would like some foodie opinions on this.

I've been going to Our Best restaurants for years now when I want "country cooking." I used to drive out to Smithfield, then started going to Hillview when they opened. I was very happy to see them open a location here in Fern Creek, but the way they handle the cornbread at this location leaves me mystified.

The past couple visits I have ordered what can be termed as "wet" foods (green beans, gravy, etc). Today it was country fried steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Last visit it was salisbury steak and gravy. When my food arrived, the cornbread was on the BOTTOM of all the "wet" food.

I find soggy cornbread under my food to be extremely unappetizing. Am I weird?

On the last visit, I queried my server about the cornbread being drowned in beef gravy and he agreed it wasn't all that appetizing, so he brought me a separate plate of the stuff, hot and crispy the way it should be. This visit, the waitress looked at me like I had sprouted two heads. I then requested to speak to the manager.

His response was to "blame corporate" and said that corp specs required them to put the food on top of the cornbread.

So why is it that the Fern Creek location is the ONLY location to have this particular policy?

I understand money is tight these days, but is one extra small plate per customer really going to bankrupt the business?

Why do they provide butter (or whipped spread as it were) for the cornbread if the cornbread is already drowned in gravy and vegetable juices?

So then the manager proceeded to tell me I should have requested the cornbread on the side because "other customers like the food on top of the cornbread."

Alrighty then.... Logic indicates to me that the cornbread should be served separately and anyone who hankers for sogginess can take care of that themselves by dunking it in the gravy/juice/whatever. After all, one cannot "desoggy" the cornbread once the deed is done.

I could even see putting the cornbread ON TOP of part of the food (although I suppose that might interfere with the presentation..but this is country cooking which isn't so much about the visual image). I can see putting it under foods such as catfish and chicken livers or anything that doesn't drain liquids.

After telling me it was my responsibility to order the cornbread "my way," he then offered to replace the meal, and I accepted. He certainly didn't give me the "customer is always right" impression though. He just acted put out and then raced to blame corporate.

I've emailed their HQ and questioned this policy and am awaiting their response.

So, I want to know what everyone thinks. Should the cornbread (this is the fried "pancake" style, not baked or fritters for those unfamiliar with Our Best) come on a separate plate? On top of the food? Or was I the one off base in thinking that it shouldn't be at the bottom of the food?

Hi Terri and welcome to the forum! I would think that the opposite would be true in terms of the cornbread, that you would have to ask for it buried under all of the other food on your plate. Cornbread is a side item bread. I wouldn't want dinner rolls placed under my food. The only exception being a dish that traditionally came served on top of bread like eggs benedict or a fried egg sandwich. Cornbread and soup beans is one of my favorite food combinations but I would prefer to do my own dunking. Having never been to Our Best I'll remember to ask for my cornbread on the side, if I ever make it into one.

Just tell them that Cracker Barrel serves it on the side.

In all seriousness I think you are totally correct on all points. Corn bread on the side unless ordered otherwise. The corporate excuse is really lame IMO.

Sounds like the manager misread the corporate communication (or maybe he can't read at all). Corn bread, like any other bread should only be served on the side unless requested to be served in a different way or if the menu clearly states it will be served differently. I don't believe I've ever seen corn bread served under food.

When I worked in a corporate restaurant, I just laughed whenever a manager turned to the "corporate excuse." I always wondered: And why does the customer care about corporate?

Now that I have experience teaching business writing, I can tell you this. Communication should always be about customer benefits. What's in it for the customer. When someone blames corporate, there's exactly nothing benefiting the customer. As is clear in your post, you really didn't give a flip about his reasoning/rationalizing/excusing. Seems the manager needs some training in effective business communication.

It was a piece of cornbread after all, for a customer who seems to be a semi-regular.

welcome to the forum. glad you received the food the way you wanted it.

Welcome to the forum, Terri, and thanks for the interesting post.
I have dined at the Smithfield Our Best more times than I care to count (it's across the street from my brother) and have always been served the cornbread on the side. The concept of corporate and Our Best in the same sentence is a bit bewildering when you think about it. Evidently for the manager too.

I currently work at the "Our Best" in question, I don't like the policy of everything on cornbread, as the juices from the green beans, etc make it soggy. When I asked the same question, I was told by several other managers that it is how they do it. No explanation as to why, just a rigid rehearsed line. I have suggested that they serve all bread on the side, yeast rolls, biscuits, cornbread, but the lack of experience in the whole place makes this "too difficult" as I have been told.
Also, I am no official representative of Our Best, I just work there.
I don't know if it will do any good, but I will share these comments with the owners. I am only a line cook as of now, which is fine by me. This is the first time in 11 years I have worked in a kitchen that I did not have full control of, so I can't do a whole lot in the ways of improvement. Any other comments or questions, just let me know and I can try to answer them, some issues, I just can't do anything about. 90% of the problems experienced at the new Our Best can be attributed to lack of skill from the staff or lack of good wages to motivate a caring attitude. (My wages are fine and I do care, but I hear the complaining from the staff daily) Just my 2 cents.

Cornbread belongs on the side, unless specified that its gonna be buried on the menu. then you request it on the side.

I agree with everyone else. Cornbread on the side. Unless stated otherwise on the menu.

Just ate the original location last week and got cornbread buried under everything else. And it wasn't corn bread to me, more like a real thin johnny cake or corn pancake. I wasn't real impressed. I prefer a true cornbread that has length, width AND height.

I've eaten at the "Our Best" in Smithfield for a number of years [back when they operated out of a small house down the road from the current location], and their cornbread [which they tout as, "Fried Cornbread"] has always been served underneath the entree....it's never bothered me, but I did inquire about it once, and it was explained to me that this was a country tradition which many people enjoy and they have tried to carry on....actually, this thread of posts is the first occasion in which I've heard anyone complain about it....y'all must be city folk...

[Robin Garr]

.y'all must be city folk...

There is a fair representation of inside-the-Watterson people here at that. However, I married a farmer's daughter, so I'm cautious about getting into arguments like this one.

I basically grew up in Eastern Kentucky....and I've lived on both sides of the Watterson. Corn bread on the side....if I want to smother it...I'll do it myself.

.y'all must be city folk...

There is a fair representation of inside-the-Watterson people here at that. However, I married a farmer's daughter, so I'm cautious about getting into arguments like this one.

A prudent policy...

I've eaten at the "Our Best" in Smithfield for a number of years [back when they operated out of a small house down the road from the current location], and their cornbread [which they tout as, "Fried Cornbread"] has always been served underneath the entree....it's never bothered me, but I did inquire about it once, and it was explained to me that this was a country tradition which many people enjoy and they have tried to carry on....actually, this thread of posts is the first occasion in which I've heard anyone complain about it....y'all must be city folk...

Not sure what "country" we are talking about. My husband's whole family is Eastern Kentucky hills for generations- They probably make cornbread every other day. And they've never heard of no "cornbread under the food"- must be a city-thing. Cornbread is always served on the side and dipped into your soup beans or crumbled on top.


Deb